In between queues for the Big Dance and the university softball and baseball teams getting their mojo back, I went off to the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino Events Center to watch some boxing action on Saturday.
I was sort of impressed, but mostly surprised by one of the bouts in the undercard. The first fight featured David Diaz against Cesar Montano in the lightweight division. No title was on the line, but this was going to be an opportunity for Diaz if he could get the job done, because he was anticipating Manny Pacquiao's move up the ranks to lightweight, and get a possible match against him.
The match went the full 10 rounds, but what surprised me was that one of the judges called the bout a draw. Ultimately, the match went to Diaz by majority decision.
The second match of the undercard was just ugly and ridiculous. I mean, you would think the match between the next big thing from Guadalajara, Abner Mares (an Olympian in Athens 2004, and, like Juan Manuel Marquez, trained under Ignacio "Nacho" Berestain), and a dehydrated, overmatched Diosdado Gabi, would be called off because of the circumstances of the latter. But they weren't. And in a two-round laugher, Gabi looked like he was fighting his very first fight, while Mares set poised to join the elite. Mares currently is the North American Boxing Organization champion in his division.
A Thailander by the name of Terdzak Jandaeng faced off against Steven Luevano in the third and final fight of the undercard. Jandaeng is an adept kickbozer. He wanted to try his hand at just using his fists because kickoboxing was too easy. Maybe he should consider jumping to Pride Fighting, K-1 or UFC. Luevano wore him down by decision.
Finally, the main event came. Manny Pacquiao went off to a good start against Juan Manuel Marquez, and he had a bit of an opening in the third round, when he knocked him to the canvas. Marquez got back up, and both of them gave the crowd, my mom and me a great show of bloodshed, hard-hitting action, and a headbutt that just made things that much tittilating.
The drama didn't come to a head until the judges scored the fight. Jerry Roth must be reviled by Pacman supporters. He called the fight 115-112 Marquez. The other two called it for Pacquiao, and he won by split decision. I was ecstatic as I roared his name to the heavens.
I think that fight more than made up for the volleyball team choking against Penn State.